Create your own jewellery – an individual approach with Sarah Macrae

Ref: S5D36552

Book now

Places available

About this course

Develop ideas for jewellery whilst learning skills and techniques relevant to your projects. You are encouraged to incorporate other materials in your jewellery, including exotic hardwoods, shells and found objects.

Course Description

Develop a personal vocabulary of ideas for your jewellery making whilst gaining making skills and learning new techniques relevant to your projects. The course begins with a short, structured project and then fabricating, decorating and joining will be demonstrated.

You will increase your understanding of how to make jewellery and how to develop an individual design vocabulary as you gain confidence in your ideas and a new level of creativity. Successful contemporary studio jewellers depend on having a unique and personal quality to the designs they produce. This course will help you to understand more about the process of design and will help you develop a personal vocabulary of ideas, alongside learning a range of techniques appropriate to your designs.

Your tutor’s approach to teaching skills is mostly on an individual basis where needed. However, she will demonstrate some techniques where they are relevant to all or some of the group. She aims to instil confidence and to encourage you to be creative.

As well as basic fabrication techniques and decorative processes, you are encouraged to think about incorporating other materials, such as exotic hardwood, bone, shell, feathers, paper, acrylic and found materials. You will look at different sorts of cold connections to enable these materials to be combined with silver to make individual and exciting pieces.

By the end of the course, you will have gained knowledge of how to design jewellery and the processes to execute these designs. Everyone should complete at least one piece of jewellery.

Course Materials

Included

Use of tools and machinery You will need to purchase silver or copper to complete your project. This can be purchased from the College Shop, or in advance from a supplier.

What students need to bring

  • An apron
  • Shoes that cover your feet (no sandals, flip flops or high heels)
  • Something to tie your hair back with if it is long
  • Any tools you have, marked clearly with your name
  • Please come prepared with a small sketchbook in which you may have collected some images of things that appeal to you (could be of anything) and perhaps a few drawings of things you might like to make. Do not worry if you think you cannot draw; just a few lines to explain your ideas will be fine.

Available to buy

Available from shop: Silver can be purchased from the College Shop, which stocks a range of sheet, wire, rod, tube and findings. These will be available in set sizes and lengths, suitable for a wide range of projects. Basic tool kits are available to borrow.

Available from tutor: The tutor carries a range of alternative materials, such as exotic hardwood, bone, shell, feathers, paper, acrylic and found materials.

Additional information

Please note: If you have any definite ideas of what you would like to make and achieve on the course or any previous experience, please email: [email protected] before the course. This will help the tutor plan the best course possible.

Metal can be brought in advance from: Silver supplier: Argex Limited, Birmingham or Tools, Precious Metal: Cookson Precious Metals, London

Wear appropriate clothing/aprons for the workshop or studio, this includes stout covered footwear i.e. no open-toes or sandals.

Timetable

Arrival day
Residential students can arrive from 4pm, non-residential students to arrive by 6.45pm for registration
6.45pm: Welcome, followed by dinner (included)
8 - 9pm: First teaching session, attendance is essential

Daily timetable
Course teaching 9.15am - 5pm (lunch included)
Dinner: from 6.30pm (included for residential students)
Evening working: students may have access to workshops until 9pm, but only with permission from the tutor and provided any health and safety guidelines are observed

Departure day
Course teaching: 9.15am - 3pm (lunch included)
Residential students will need to check out of rooms by 10am

Please note, the tutor may make slight variations to the daily timetable as required

General Information

Tutors

Sarah Macrae

Sarah graduated Brighton Polytechnic in 1981 and has combined her studio practice as a jeweller with teaching part time. A member of The Designer Jewellers Group, she has exhibited at the Barbican Arts Centre (London) for the last twenty eight years. In 2000 Sarah was invited to write an introduction to Jewellery for Crowood Press and she features in several youtube videos. Sarah's work can be seen on Facebook and Instagram.

Accommodation

Residential option available. Find out accommodation costs and how to book here.

Courses of interest

Jewellery – unlock your creative potential

8 to 14 Aug 2025 | West Dean
Places available
Tutor: Laila Smith |
Suitable for all
£984

Jewellery – ring-linking with stones and beads

11 to 14 Apr 2025 | West Dean
Places available
Tutor: Alison Evans |
Suitable for all
£459

Filigree jewellery

25 to 27 Apr 2025 | West Dean
Places available
Tutor: Filipa Oliveira |
Intermediate
£346

Hand engraving for champlevé and basse-taille enamel work

11 to 15 May 2025 | West Dean
Places available
Tutor: Jane Short |
Intermediate/Advanced
£687

Interested in a career in metalwork?

Our Foundation Degree in Metalwork will enhance your employment prospects, give you the skills to set up as a self-employed craftsperson or allow you to continue to higher education. Encompassing both silversmithing and blacksmithing, you will learn practical skills, material properties, placing your work in a broader context and historic metalworking techniques. Find out more